Lock for automatic train-pipe connecters



Dec. 1924- 1,517,785

c A. KOTHE LOCK FOR AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTERS Filed March 15, 19222 Sheets-Sheet 1 I JA/I/ZNTUR,

Dec. 2, 1924. 1,517,785

C.A.KOTHE LOCK FOR.AUTOMATIG TRAIN RIPE CONNECTERS 'Filed March 15, 19222 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE.

"CHARLES A. KO TI-IE, OF EAST CLEVELAND. OI-IIG, ASSIGNOR TO Th-IEAMERICAN id-(U'TU- MA'IIC CONNECTOR COMPANY, OF W'YOMING, DELAWARE, ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

LOOK FOR AUTOMATIC TRAIN-FIFE 'CONNECTERS.

Application fil'ed March 13, 1922. Serial No. 543,425.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CrrAnLns A. Kori-in, a citizen'of the United States,residing at Fast Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in a Look forAutomatic Train-Pipe Connectors, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact descri'ption, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to automatic train pipe connectors and isparticularly concerned with the provision of means for loci:-

' ing together a pair of connected heads, whereby partial separation isprevented by abnormal pressure in one of the fluid carrying pipes. I

. The oartial separation or gappmg of connected leads is due primarilyto excess of pressure in the steam line. Ordinarily, a

steam pressure of about 4:5 pounds 15 carried in the steam line, butsometimes the lines are filled with steam under boiler pressure at about200 pounds. In cases where the orifices for the air signal pipe, airbrake pipe and steam pipe are disposed in a vertical plane with a steampipe at the bottom, the excessive pressure tends to spread the connectedheads at the bottom thus allowing air to escape.

One of the objects of my invention therefore, is the provision of meansfor preventing the partial gap or separation of connected heads eventhough the pressure in the steam line is raised above normal operationpressure, To this end, I provide a lock Which is automatically operablefor locking connecter heads together as soon as a sufficient pressure ofsteam is admitted into the steam conduit.

Furthermore, my invention contemplates the provision of a lock which isadapted. to be released automatically whenever the steam is turned off,whereby the heads may be dis onnected while in substantially horizontalposition.

Other features include the provision of a lock which may be readilyattached to existing train pipe connectors without necessitatingextensive changes in the construction thereof. These features willbecome apparent in the following description.

which pertains to the drawings. and in the appended claims.

Inthe drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pair of automaticconnectors showing one of them in section and having a lock embodyingmyinvention; Fig. 2 is an end view of one of the connecter heads shown inFig, 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through the connecter whileFig. i is a horizontal section taken on lines 44 in Fig. 1 through theconnecter head just abovc thc loch.

My invention is adapted for use in various forms of connectors but inthe drawings. 1 have illustrated a form of automatic con necter whereina spring pressed connecter head 10 is supported by a bracket 11, from adraw bar 12 of the train coupler, and is provided on one side with aprojection 13, and on. the other side with a recess 14-. with orificesl5, l6 and .17 disposed in a vertical plane therebetween. These orificesare adapted to be connected with usual train pipes for the air andsteam. In this form of connecter, the head is shown as having a shank 18which has a sliding and universally movable connection with the bracket11 and as having a strong compression spring 19 which surrounds theshank and presses the head forwardly of the bracket; the length of thespring being such that when the heads are in coupled position, thesprings are normally compressed.

My invention is shown in connection with the connecter heads abovedescribed and broadly comprises a lock which is normally held inunlocked position, but is adapted. to be controlled by fluid in one ofthe train pipes for locking the connecter heads together. This lock inits preferred form is adapted to be attached to existing connecterheads, and to be so constructed that coacting projections and recessesmay readily be brought together, and released while the heads are insubstantially horizontal position. Such a lock may be embodied in acasing 20 which is externally threaded at one end to engage a projection13, and at the other to receive a cap 21. Both the casing and cap arehollow and are separated by a diaphragm 22 one side of which may be incommunication through the conduit 23 with the steam line 17, and theother side of which engages a latch 24. This latch extends through thecasing 20 and is normally held in engagement with the diaphragm by aspring 25,- in which position the nose 26 of the latch is within thecasing.

Under normal conditions, that is, when the heads are disconnected, thespring holds the latch within the casing. This same condition prevails,however, even when the heads are connected, if the pressure in the fluidline 23 is not suflieient to overcome the. force of the spring 25. Inthis way, the lock may be set to operate at a predetermined pressuremerely by aryin; the strength of the spring.

The preferred means for providing an engagement between the coactingprojections and recesses is to provide a shoulder 30 in the recessjustbelow the latch. Then when the pressure in the conduit 23 exceedsthat exerted by the spring 2-5, the latch is forced downwardly and insuch position that any tendency of the heads to separate is overcome byan engagement between the nose 26 and shoulder 30. As the fluid pressureincreases the deflection of the diaphragm is limited by reason of thefact that the latch is so designed, that a shoulder 31 engages thecasing, thereby liniiiting' further downward movement of the latch.

Since the lock is designed to be operated primarily by steam, provisionis made for returning condensation to the steam line, thus preventingthe lock from freezing and subsequently bursting the diaphragm. This issatisfactorily obtained by placing the fluid chamber above the trainpipe orifice 17 and leading the conduit 23 from the top of the steamconnection 32.

My invention is shown on a connecter head which is normally urgedforward of the bracket 11 by the spring 19; the forward movement beinglimited by a block 38 which is adapted to engage the rear of thesupporting bracket. To hold the head in normal coupling position, I haveshown in F ig. 1, a chain 35, one end of which may be anchored as at 36to the bracket 11, and the other end of which may be adjustably securedas at 37 to the shank of the coupler head. The length of the chain maybe adjusted by nuts 39 which are in threaded engagement with theeye-bolts 37.

Assuming that a lock embodying my invention is attached to the connecterheads and that two railway cars so equipped are being coupled; then thelatches 2-5 are held within the casing 20 by reason of the springs 25.After the heads are automatically coupled and steam is caused to flowthrough the usual train pipes therefore. the pressure within the chamberabove the diaphragm is increased until the force is greater than thatexerted by the spring on the other side of the diaphragm. \Vhen thisoccurs, the nose 26 of the latch is forced downwardly to the positionindicated in Fig. 3. Then as the pressure is increased in the steampipe, any tendency for the heads to spread apart prevented by theengagement between the latch and shoulder 30. \Vhen the steam is turnedoff, the spring 25 automatically forces the plunger upwardly therebyfreeing the latch from the shoulder 30 and permitting the heads to bediscngaged while held in substantially horizontal position.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided alock which is automatically operable for retaining the connecter headsin engagement with each other, and for permitting the normaldisengagement while the hcads are held in substantially horizontalposition. This lock is well adapted for preventing the connected headsfrom gripping, due to excessive pressure in the steam line, and is soconstructed that it may be readily attached to existing connecters.Further advantages include positivencss of operation independently ofweather conditions. whereby an eilicient lock is secured which iscapable of universal application.

l'laving thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an automatic train pipe connecterthe combination with a pair ofconnector heads, each having a nrojection and a recess, the recess ofone head having a shoulder and the projection of the cooperating headhaving a latch carried thereby and arranged to cooperate with saidshoulder, said latch being disposed on the inner side of saidprojection, a fluid pressure conduit associated with said head, saidlatch being controlled by the fluid pressure in said conduit.

2. In an automatic train pipe connccter, the combination with a pair ofconnector heads, each having a projection and a recess, each recesshaving a shoulder and each projection having a latch cooperating withsaid shoulder for locking said heads together, said latch and shoulderextending in a direction at right angle to the direction of movement ofthe head during the coupling and uncoupling operation, each head havinga flu d carrying conduit. and means whereby fluid from said conduit iscaused to actuate said latch for locking purposes.

3. In combination a pair of coacting connecter heads, each havins: aprojection on one side and a recess on the other side, each recesshaving a shoulder disposed in a plane at right angles to the directionof movement of the connecters during the normal coupling and uncouplingoperation thereof, a casing carried by each head within the associatedprojection, a latch member slidably mounted in each casing and adaptedto engage the shoulder in the cooperating head, a fluid chamber Withinsaid casing above the latch member, a diaphragm providing a bottom Wallfor said chamber and adapted to engage said plunger, a steam conduitcarried by each head beneath the chamber of the associated casing,whereby condensation may flow from the chamber into the steam pipe, andyieldable means associated with each latch for normally holding; it outof engagement with the coact-ing shoulder.

In. testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my si gn ature;

CHARLES A. KOTHE.

